edwin anderson (bort16)

The 400 Blows (Les Quatre cents coups) Unrated

One of the most of important of the French New Wave, 'The 400 Blows' is an incredibly touching, semi autobiographical portrait of the deviant, yet very misunderstood adolesent Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Leaud). The film was Truffaut's major breakthrough after moving to filmmaking from film critique in the now famous Cahiers du Cinema. Leaud's performance is perhaps just as important as Truffaut's direction, it is sincere and heartfelt, and we believe that he is Doinel, as if he has been him his entire life (thus it is no suprise that Truffaut continued the series of Doinel with Leaud in the lead over the years as he grew older). The 400 Blows is one of the most influential, charming, and heartfelt films to come out of the French New Wave.

8 1/2 Unrated